Over the last decade or so, interest in Celtic Spirituality has risen dramatically. The reasons for this are not hard to fathom. The very word Celtic conjures up images of ancient Irish mystics so in tune with the spiritual rhythms of creation that poetry flows from their every expression, artistry from their every creative endeavor. Such connotations resonate within our increasingly post-modern culture which seeks to uncover the deeper meaning of our earthly existence.

            While historians warn against treating “Celtic culture” as either a monolith or a black hole from which anyone can pull anything they wish, historical sources can help us understand some of the continuing contributions Celtic Christianity has made to Christendom.

            Celtic refers to a group of European tribes united by a family of languages now represented by Gaelic, Irish and Welsh. Before the turn of the era, they occupied a wide swath of Eurasia, extending from Turkey to the British Isles. The Romans conquered and largely assimilated these tribes everywhere except Ireland, the British Highlands and the outer isles of Scotland.

            Christianity came to these fringe areas of the Empire as early as the third century A.D., but especially after Constantine, who legalized the religion in 313. Less than a century later, the Roman legions withdrew from Britain to defend Italy from the Visigoths. Over the next 200 years, Christianity would blossom in the Celtic regions, mostly in isolation from Roman influence, particularly under the leadership of St. Patrick (†493).  While the Celtic and Roman traditions would reunite in 664 at the Synod of Whitby, Christianity in the regions around the Irish Sea would retain its own distinctive features.

            One of these can be seen in the famous hymn “St. Patrick’s Breastplate” (Hymn 370), which arose from the Celtic tradition, if not from St. Patrick himself. It begins by invoking the Trinity, and through several verses links not only Christendom but all of creation to God in Christ. Its climax is an affirmation of Christ’s ever present nearness:

            Christ be with me, Christ within me,
            Christ behind me, Christ before me,
            Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
            Christ to comfort and restore me,
            Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
            Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
            Christ in hearts of all that love me,
            Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

            This astonishing understanding of the closeness of Christ - and indeed, of the entire Trinity - stands in marked contrast to vision of the distant, transcendent God being emphasized in much of Western Christendom during the Middle Ages. There is an intimacy here that is both comforting and transforming.

            Such intimacy with God can further be seen in many of the Celtic prayers that have survived. They touch on all aspects of Celtic rural life and include prayers for such tasks as cooking, eating, milking the cows, starting the fire, and rowing a boat. They bespeak of a culture whose people viewed God as present in all their daily activities.

            There is much more to be said of Celtic Christianity, of course, especially its view of God the Father’s continuing hand in creation and of the Holy Spirit’s binding together of human relationships.

            Since many of these themes regularly permeate our annual parish retreat at Shrine Mont, it seems a natural place to explore this area of spirituality more closely. And so, the topic of this year’s retreat will be “Celtic Christianity.” We hope that many parishioner families will be able to attend this year’s event over the weekend of June 20-22. For more information, see pages five and six of this month’s Pohick Post.

            In the meantime, I leave you with a traditional Celtic blessing:

            May there always be work for your hands to do.
            May your purse always hold a coin or two.
            May the sun always shine upon your window pane.
            May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
            May the hand of a friend always be near to you and
            May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.